History of the 173rd New York

The 173rd New York was organized during the fall of 1862, in response to President Lincoln's call for 300,000 troops. The regiment was raised under the auspices of the Metropolitan Police, who promised a $350 per man bounty (which was never paid).  Most of the men of the regiment were from Brooklyn and many were older men in their 30's and 40's.  The regiment was mustered into Federal service on November 10, 1862 under the command of Col. Charles B. Morton.
On December 9, 1862 the regiment was ordered to Louisiana where it joined the Army of the Gulf.  They first went into action at Ft. Bisland, part of the Bayou Teche campaign, in April of 1863 and were awarded battle honors for their service.  The regiment, now under the command of Louis Peck,  participated in the siege of Port Hudson during the summer of 1863. In the spring of 1864 they marched out as part of the Red River campaign to invade Texas.  At the Battle of Pleasant Hill the regiment took heavy casualties and had approximately 150 men taken prisoner by the Confederates.  These men were later sent to Camp Ford at Tyler, Texas.  The remainder of the regiment participated in the long fight back down the Red River, taking part in the actions at Cane River and Monnett's Bluff. 
In July of 1864,  the 173rd NY was sent east and assigned to the Army of the Shenandoah and then to the Dept. of Washington.  The regiment finished the war as occupying troops in Savannah, Georgia, mustering out with approximately 250 men of the 750 who served in the regiment., having done their duty to the Union.

Courtesy of T.  Wolcott

Dyer's Compendium: 173rd REGIMENT INFANTRY ("4th NATIONAL GUARD").
Organized at Brooklyn, N.Y., October and November, 1862.
Left State for New Orleans, La., December 9, 1862.

SERVICE.--Occupation of Baton Rouge, La., December 17, 1862, and duty there till March, 1863.
Operations on Bayou Plaquemine and the Black and Atchafalaya Rivers February 18-28.
Operations against Port Hudson, La., March 7-27.